UNH 2024/2025 Goldberg Edition

[Whalers]

Can we just stop with the facilities BS? Was recruiting to the upcoming/brand new Whitt easier? Obviously. But how about before that? How many quality players were brought in before that to place UNH hockey on the map? Plenty. You need someone who will go out and SELL THE PROGRAM, SELL THE VISION. Far too many comments on hear about the Whitt being a dump, it isnt.

Sales 101 - People buy from people. People buy from people they believe in, that can make their life better, make it easier, more exciting. Pick the phone up, make a call, make a connection, make a sale. MS7 DOES NOT BRING THIS. The lack of talent walking thru the door, or lined up to do so, tells you all you need to know.

If you want to sit and whine about the Whitt, then give me some background on the following;

- Lake Superior State in the 80's. A lot of people looking for long winters in the upper peninsula because Abel Arena (built in 1976) was some showpiece? Or could Frank Anzalone and Jeff Jackson recruit AND coach?
- Maine - During the Shawn Walsh era and now under Barr - Alfond Arena (built in 1977) was / is a world beating arena? The rest of the facilities were second to none? And dont tell me it was all about retroactive financial aid.
- Duke Basketball - The Blue Devils has been so wildly successful because Cameron Indoor Stadium (built in 1940) just wows the recruits so much.

The list could go on in so many walks of life, not just sports.

UNH, AND IT'S FANS, STOP WITH THE EXCUSES. LEAD, FOLLOW, OR GET OUT OF THE WAY!

 

[2013hockeyfan]

Was just thinking while at the Tsongas Center Friday that their facilities likely lag behind UNHs and that didn't keep them from an excellent run in the mid to late 2010s that resulted in more HEA tournament championships than UNH has in its history...

 

[Potluck]

Whalers: People buy value. UNH isn't offering much value. Northeastern just announced the building of a new arena. Commitment. Maine renovations. Commitment. Look at BC, BU, UConn, UMass, and ULowell facilities. Commitment. That's 7 HE schools rights there. Providence players amenities are nice, too. That's 8. To say facilities are overrated is to say the aforementioned schools are making foolish investments in facilities. You say the Whitt isn't a dump? Well, that's not a very exciting defense. It's hard to sell the "not a dump" credo. Have you seen the players amenities and compared them to the aforementioned programs? The players don't sit in the stands, they live in the lockers rooms, etc...

Do you want to do business with people or entities that don't invest in themselves? UNH hockey reaks no commitment. Everything is less than. Facilities, less than. Coaches salaries, less than. Results, less than. At some point the recruits, parents, players agents, NHL teams and junior coaches see it and act accordingly. Telling restaurant customers that the chef uses lower quality ingredients that often result in good tasting dishes is no way to market a restaurant.

JB: your suggestion that it's Mike Souza's job to build a new arena is bizarre. I'm no longer a Souza fan but holy cow. I find it incredible that you don't think the University should have an athletic facilities development strategy helmed by experienced people. You think the coaches should build their teams facilities?

 

[Potluck]

UNH v. UML. One game, single elimination. Mike Souza v. Norm Bazin. You do the calculation. 'Nuff said.

 

[TheGrouchyCat]

You think the coaches should build their teams facilities?

Wasn't one of the "pros" of MS7 his ability to schmooze the high dollar donors and business leaders to secure funding for the upgrades?

I see a garish sign and a sub .500 record, but very little else in terms of forward and positive movement. At this point, I'll take a public update of funding status and a pie in the sky projection of when ground will ACTUALLY be broken.

When a coach, the figurehead of any collegiate sports program, ignores his/her fanbase for the better of a decade, guess what, those fans shut their wallets and begin to lose interest.

You reap what you sow.

 

[norbert]

Trying to play catch up...

Do we have an answer as to what those T-Shirts were referencing? I don't go to my seat so never saw them and just heard about it tonight. Did MS7 use some of this bonus to print them....

Interesting back and forth on the UNH Hockey main Facebook page. Mike Hickey, the ultimate MS7 apologist (Blue Line Bob?), and I have been going back and forth. What he fails to mention in his dying support for the coach is that he is on the UNH Athletic Advisory Board. Which tells me that he is probably responsible for guiding this extension.

I would have to find the exact quotes but he mentions this as a successful program and that results are not guaranteed. I will find some of his highlights and see what everyone thinks.

 

[norbert]

Mike Hickey apology tour:

Mike Hickey
I'm not really interested in your opinion. You're talking to the wrong person

Mike Hickey
You're a critic. I get it. I work with fans and program supporters every day and choose to support of our student athletes and coaches. Take your concerns elsewhere.

Mike Hickey
You get great value as a season ticket holder
Outcomes aren't guaranteed

Mike Hickey
You may be giving other chat sites too much credit. They don't necessarily represent the majority of UNH hockey fans. Some of those fans have genuine concerns. Many are not as well informed. And some are just toxic.

Correction, he is the Chair of the University of New Hampshire Athletics Advisory Board and also on the Executive Committee, Dean's Executive Advisory Board for the Peter Paul School.

Chuck, the floor is yours.......

 

[Sparkee]

Mike Hickey
You get great value as a season ticket holder

 

[norbert]

Yeah that's a tough sell. Apparently the high and mighty have a different view of value than the non-elite.

 

[walrus]

When a coach, the figurehead of any collegiate sports program, ignores his/her fanbase for the better of a decade, guess what, those fans shut their wallets and begin to lose interest.

You reap what you sow.

Thats what happened to Timmay time in Orono

 

[TheGrouchyCat]

Mike Hickey apology tour:

Mike Hickey
I'm not really interested in your opinion. You're talking to the wrong person

Mike Hickey
You're a critic. I get it. I work with fans and program supporters every day and choose to support of our student athletes and coaches. Take your concerns elsewhere.

Mike Hickey
You get great value as a season ticket holder
Outcomes aren't guaranteed

Mike Hickey
You may be giving other chat sites too much credit. They don't necessarily represent the majority of UNH hockey fans. Some of those fans have genuine concerns. Many are not as well informed. And some are just toxic.

Correction, he is the Chair of the University of New Hampshire Athletics Advisory Board and also on the Executive Committee, Dean's Executive Advisory Board for the Peter Paul School.

Chuck, the floor is yours.......

Knowing how closely affiliated Hickey is with the program and UNH at large, I learned a long time ago to take what he says with a grain of salt.

It's clear though there is little respect, or even acknowledgement, of fans' criticism and concern. If the university cannot even accept the fact the program is struggling and everything isn't going to plan, it's clear that nothing is going to change.

 

[2013hockeyfan]

Interesting back and forth on the UNH Hockey main Facebook page. Mike Hickey, the ultimate MS7 apologist (Blue Line Bob?), and I have been going back and forth. What he fails to mention in his dying support for the coach is that he is on the UNH Athletic Advisory Board. Which tells me that he is probably responsible for guiding this extension.

What Facebook group is this I don't see it in the 'Main' one I'm aware of?

 

[HockeyRef]

Whalers: People buy value. UNH isn't offering much value. Northeastern just announced the building of a new arena. Commitment. Maine renovations. Commitment. Look at BC, BU, UConn, UMass, and ULowell facilities. Commitment. That's 7 HE schools rights there. Providence players amenities are nice, too. That's 8. To say facilities are overrated is to say the aforementioned schools are making foolish investments in facilities. You say the Whitt isn't a dump? Well, that's not a very exciting defense. It's hard to sell the "not a dump" credo. Have you seen the players amenities and compared them to the aforementioned programs? The players don't sit in the stands, they live in the lockers rooms, etc...

Do you want to do business with people or entities that don't invest in themselves? UNH hockey reaks no commitment. Everything is less than. Facilities, less than. Coaches salaries, less than. Results, less than. At some point the recruits, parents, players agents, NHL teams and junior coaches see it and act accordingly. Telling restaurant customers that the chef uses lower quality ingredients that often result in good tasting dishes is no way to market a restaurant.

JB: your suggestion that it's Mike Souza's job to build a new arena is bizarre. I'm no longer a Souza fan but holy cow. I find it incredible that you don't think the University should have an athletic facilities development strategy helmed by experienced people. You think the coaches should build

What Facebook group is this I don't see it in the 'Main' one I'm aware of?

UNH Mens Hockey page...post entitled 'Senior Night W' currently 28 replies/comments. Gotta scroll down some

 

[Whalers]

Potluck, what was / is the value in the 3 examples I gave? The coaches, and their assistants, sold recruits on where they were headed, not some building or renovation. Plenty of asses sat in the seats at Snively watching good players recruited by people selling their vision. Nice if that included shiny new upgrades, coats of paint or pretty co-eds, but at the end of the day, they are selling time on a sheet of ice.

About value, UNH season hockey tickets were a good value when you are putting a quality product on said ice, one that is capable of consistently winning, or being exciting on the cusp of winning. That value went out the door 10 years ago when I couldnt give away tickets to family, customers, friends, or anyone. They all had better things to do. That is still the case.
_____
"Mike Hickey - You get great value as a season ticket holder. Outcomes aren't guaranteed."

Sorry, but for the past 10 years, the results most assuredly have been pretty much guaranteed. Avg Hockey East finish is 9th.

 

[TheGrouchyCat]

Correction, he is the Chair of the University of New Hampshire Athletics Advisory Board and also on the Executive Committee, Dean's Executive Advisory Board for the Peter Paul School.

Chuck, the floor is yours.......

Yes:

Chairman of the UNH Athletics Advisory Board (2019-Current)
Executive Committee Member, Dean's Executive Advisory Board (2016-Current)
Interim Dean of UNH Manchester (2014-2016)
Board of Directors, UNH Alumni Association (2004-2014)
President, UNH Alumni Association Board of Directors (2011-2013)

No bias here...

 

[Jellsville USA]

Keeping it simple here. You need to win. You can have the nicest facilities but talent seeks out winning programs not fancy facilities. Coaching at this level requires a 24/7 commitment (on and off the ice). I see an absent coach with more talent than their record reflects. This team truly is a few games, with better puck luck, from being in the NCAA tourny conversation. The difference seems to be absent coaching. I am hopeful the senior group continues to step up and wins at Lowell and then upsets BC. I have to say that despite the losing, I have really enjoyed this years group of kids. I hope they stick together and we get some additional firepower next year. We need to improve on a .091 shot %. (Forever Optimistic!).

 

[2013hockeyfan]

I don't fault the people pointing out the shortcomings in facilities...there are only so many levers you can pull...but that is not a leading cause of UNH's failure/mediocrity. Examples abound of coaches who have been able find success with minimal resource or institutional backing (look at Pecknold's history at QU). As Chuck has pointed out repeatedly, you first create success and the resources follow, not vice versa.

 

[HockeyRef]

Take a look at the flagships facilities after they won their Natty...took Carvil (sp) what 3,4 seasons? Also remember his conditions to come from St.L...he laid out how he'd turn that program around and did it. Oh and didn't he have an assistant whose last name is Barr?

Of course it helps that he had a kid named Makar waiting for him...

I don't fault the people pointing out the shortcomings in facilities...there are only so many levers you can pull...but that is not a leading cause of UNH's failure/mediocrity. Examples abound of coaches who have been able find success with minimal resource or institutional backing (look at Pecknold's history at QU). As Chuck has pointed out repeatedly, you first create success and the resources follow, not vice versa.

 

[bakchk20]

Yes:

Chairman of the UNH Athletics Advisory Board (2019-Current)
Executive Committee Member, Dean's Executive Advisory Board (2016-Current)
Interim Dean of UNH Manchester (2014-2016)
Board of Directors, UNH Alumni Association (2004-2014)
President, UNH Alumni Association Board of Directors (2011-2013)

No bias here...

That's a huge tank of Kool Aid...!

 

[Scott]

I don't fault the people pointing out the shortcomings in facilities...there are only so many levers you can pull...but that is not a leading cause of UNH's failure/mediocrity. Examples abound of coaches who have been able find success with minimal resource or institutional backing (look at Pecknold's history at QU). As Chuck has pointed out repeatedly, you first create success and the resources follow, not vice versa.

Umile had winning teams in the early 90's before the Whitt was built. I don't remember when in the early 90's it was announced that a new arena was on the horizon.